chapter Eight
“I have brought your breakfast, Your Highness. It’s stopped snowing and the sun is out. You’ll be able to show your Mr. Lucas our beautiful city today.”
Lara groaned as she struggled up from the soft pillows, keeping her eyes shut as Greta pulled the curtains to flood the room with light. “What time is it, Greta?”
“It’s ten o’clock. You’ve had a good sleep and should have recovered from your jet lag,” the maid said, making small clicking noises under her breath as she straightened the bed and plumped up the pillows behind Lara’s tousled head. She placed the breakfast tray over Lara’s knees and proceeded to pour her coffee.
If she only knew. It wasn’t the jet lag that had caused her to sleep in, but the hours of tossing and turning as she went over and over in her mind what Jack had said. How could he and her parents have discussed and planned her future in this way? How could they possibly imagine she could be bought?
I don’t really know who is to blame. My mother and father for setting Jack up and taking advantage of his wealth or Jack, for daring to think I would meekly agree to marry him. At first when he’d mentioned getting married, I was so happy. I thought it was because he loved me. But, it was all part of their deal—their precious business deal. Jack wants me so my family can open doors for him into the European business community.
She pushed her tangled hair from her eyes. That was the puzzlement. Jack, her fisherman she knew from their island, couldn’t have cared less but, this Jack was new to her—this top businessman was different. She was sure he would use all the contacts he’d make through his royal marriage to further his wealth. This was the reason he was willing to negotiate with her parents. It had to be.
“Drink your coffee while it’s hot, Lara.” Greta gently chastised as she bustled around the room placing Lara’s clothes in readiness for the day ahead.
“Do you know if Mr. Lucas is awake, Greta?”
“Heavens, yes. Rudolf told me he was up hours ago and at the moment is meeting with the king and the finance minister over something or other.”
Lara took a sip of coffee. So Jack had ignored her refusal of marriage and was continuing to discuss matters with the king. She carefully replaced the cup in the saucer and wondered what to do. She would need to talk to her mother and explain she had turned down Jack’s proposal.
“Greta, do you know if the queen has any engagements today?”
“Well, there is the official dinner this evening to welcome Prince Michael, plus your two great aunts from Lichtenstein will be there. You will need to pick out a dress to wear. I’m not sure about the queen’s engagements, but tomorrow morning you have meetings with your personal secretary and press officer. In the afternoon, I have arranged for your hairdresser and manicurist to be here at four o’clock to prepare you for the ball.”
She tried to control the sensation of panic as she listened to Greta. She should be used to having her days and evenings organized but after the relative freedom of Australia, this was going to be hard to take. Greta patted Lara’s hand as if she understood Lara’s anxiety. She was lucky to have someone like Greta who really cared for her. She had been her nanny from when Lara was a small child and then, as she had grown into a young woman, Greta had stayed on in the royal household as Lara’s personal maid. There had always been great affection between them and she considered confiding in Greta about this latest turn of events.
“Your bath is ready. I’ll leave you for now.”
“Thank you, Greta. I appreciate everything you do for me.”
“I’m glad to have you home.” The older woman returned Lara’s smile as she closed the bedroom door.
She finished her toast and coffee and then with a glint of determination in her eyes picked up the phone and rang the queen’s apartments.
“Did you sleep well?” Her mother answered immediately.
“Yes, thank you.”
“It’s so wonderful to have you home. We must make time for a catch up. Did Jack dine with you last night?”
The question was casual but she knew her mother was probing. “No, but he did ask me to marry him.” Nothing like getting to the point, she decided, deliberately hardening her heart.
“Oh, darling. I’m happy for you both. It’s so wise of you, particularly if there’s a baby on the way.”
“Mummy, I refused Jack’s proposal.”
“What? My dear child, how could you do such a thing? The man is going to invest millions of dollars into our country and you refuse him?”
“Exactly.” She gripped the receiver to stop her hand from shaking. “I would have preferred to discuss this with you face-to-face but it appears you and my father decided to plan my life behind my back so…”
“Lara, that’s enough. You don’t understand how important this arrangement is. Besides, I’m not blind. I can see you’re attracted to Jack and I understand. He is a very attractive man. After all, you’ve been intimate with him so it’s not as if you would be marrying a stranger.” Francesca’s voice took on a persuasive tone.
Placing one hand to her burning face, Lara swallowed as she gathered herself to continue. She couldn’t believe she was having this extraordinary conversation with her mother. She had always been a dutiful daughter and naively obeyed her parents with her one act of defiance when she insisted on attending school in Australia. And she would never have won that battle if Carl hadn’t supported her, demanding his royal parents allow Lara to be part of her modern generation. She loved her brother dearly and had always been grateful to him for taking her side on the issue.
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
There was a pause and she waited knowing her mother wouldn’t give in. “We’ll see, dear. Now, it’s a lovely day and I think we should treat our guest to a tour. I have arranged for the three of us to go on a sleigh ride through the parks, and I would like you to be ready at two o’clock.”
Tempted to refuse, she found herself agreeing instead. Jack was here as a royal visitor so she would need to be polite to him, particularly as he wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for her.
“Is Jack still with the king?”
“Yes. They’re going to have lunch together. And, Lara, I don’t wish to discuss this matter in front of him until we have sorted something out. Is that understood?”
“Yes.”
“But the subject is by no means closed. You have to consider marriage in the very near future so it might as well be to a wealthy man like Jack.”
“There are plenty of rich men around, Mummy. Why don’t you put me on EBay and see how much you can get for a real live princess?” Lara’s tone was cutting. Since when had her mother become so hard and so desperate to arrange her daughter’s marriage?
“Don’t be cynical. It doesn’t suit you. Yes, there are wealthy men around and if you don’t agree to this arrangement with Jack your father and I will be obliged to choose another husband for you.”
Click. Her mother had rung off. Lara looked around her room fighting the panic rising in her. Was this how the rest of her life would be? To be prodded and pulled to do other peoples’ bidding. She needed someone to talk to—Jade or Kate, her best friends.
She checked the time on her bedside clock. They were both in Australia and it was getting late there. Still… She rang Jade’s cell and received a voice mail message. Then a disembodied voice on Kate’s cell said her phone was either switched off or out of range. Disheartened, she replaced the receiver. She just couldn’t win.
~ * ~
By the time two o’clock arrived, she had talked herself into a different frame of mind. She had decided that none of the present situation was anyone’s fault and to be petulant wasn’t going to do her, Jack or her parents any good.
After all, this whole thing had been caused by a domino effect. If she hadn’t met Jack and he hadn’t been wealthy and her country in trouble, then her parents wouldn’t have considered him for her husband. Regretfully, he wouldn’t even have been invited here as the royal guest but could possibly have been sent to prison instead. Because she had refused his proposal, her parents would now seek another suitable husband for her. Well, that was too bad. She wasn’t ready to marry anyone unless they loved her, really loved her for herself. Not for her position and to take advantage of her family and not because they wanted to own her, like a prized possession.
“And certainly not because they want to use my body to satisfy their physical needs, Jack Lucas,” she whispered, stepping down the remaining stairs and walking toward the main entrance of the palace.
She was worried about the financial difficulties of her country and would ask her father to explain this to her when she could get some time with him. She didn’t understand how a huge debt could place the royal family in such a position. Surely, Challoner’s government, not her parents, was responsible for sorting this out?
“There you are, Lara. She looks lovely, doesn’t she, Jack?”
Lara smiled at him determined to put the marriage proposal episode behind her. “Thank you. Hello, Jack. Have you had a good meeting with my father?”
He looked very handsome in a thick, warm coat and on his head wore a Russian-style hat. Obviously, Rudolf had wanted to make sure he didn’t get cold and had provided him with appropriate clothing. Lara once again wore her white fake fur coat and matching hat, which she pulled over her hair.
“I had a good meeting and an extremely pleasant lunch with his majesty,” he replied and she could tell he had no intention of giving anything away.
“Jack, you sit next to Lara and face forward so you can see the beautiful sights of Challoner.”
Francesca was in her top organizing form, and Lara found herself sitting in the horse-drawn sleigh with Jack at her side as the driver tucked a warm rug over their knees. Francesca had arranged for Hubert, the royal estate manager and expert historian on Challoner, to accompany them and he and the queen sat facing the other two.
“This is fantastic and what beautiful horses,” Jack remarked.
Lara smiled at Jack’s pleasure as the two magnificent thoroughbreds, encouraged by their driver, moved forward easily pulling the giant sleigh across the snow.
He was right, she thought an hour later as the horses turned toward the palace on the return journey. She had forgotten how lovely her home was. It was a glorious blue and golden day with the sun shining brilliantly on a fairyland of beauty. The ride had taken them through the palace grounds and then into the royal parks. Every tree dazzled under their ethereal mantles of snow.
When they had left the palace grounds, they had been joined by a land rover carrying four plain-clothed policemen who provided the necessary protection and escorted them through the old part of the city. Throughout the ride, Hubert had pointed out the historical features of interest to Jack who, in return, had asked many questions. Francesca was at her most charming and continued to make a huge fuss of Jack.
For Lara it had been a ride of exquisite torture. She was aware of the slightest movement Jack made. His hands chopping the air as he emphasized a point in his conversation with Francesca, the perfection of his profile as he half turned to her, the occasional pressure and warmth of his thigh against hers and most of all, this inane desire she had to fling herself into his arms and have him hold and protect her and love her. Why then was she being so stubborn when it would have been much easier to accept his proposal? Then everyone would be happy. But, what about a year from now, or five years? They could end up hating each other.
As they turned into the palace grounds on their return, Jack took advantage of Francesca’s distraction as she discussed some estate matters with Hubert.
He leaned toward her and whispered, “I’ve been trying to grab the opportunity of telling you how beautiful you look.”
She desperately wanted to stay calm but the color rose beneath her skin at his compliment. “Thank you,” she said, lowering her head.
“You’re like a fairy tale princess set against the backdrop of her magical palace.”
She daren’t look up, knowing her emotions would be reflected in her eyes.
“Thank you again, but I’m still not going to marry you,” she said quietly, glad that at last she was in control and could talk calmly about his proposal, while on the previous night she had lost it completely.
“I don’t know why you’re flirting with me,” she added, glancing across at Francesca who was still deeply immersed in her conversation with Hubert.
“I won’t rest until I have you in my bed, Lara. You started this little game and the more elusive you are, the more determined I am to have you. Whether that involves marriage or not, I really don’t care.”
She did look at him this time. She couldn’t help it. Was he teasing her? Sure enough, his eyes were alight with devilment as he flashed a cheeky grin. Not to be out done, she murmured, “You could have had me. I was all yours without you giving up your precious freedom to marry me. But, you’ve left it too late. Although my parents have betrayed me by trying to sell me off, I can cope with their attitude. While I may not agree, I understand why they’re doing it. But you, Jack, you want to marry me for all the wrong reasons.”
“What are the two of you whispering about?”
“Lara was saying she would like to sit next to me at dinner, ma’am,” he replied, digging her in the ribs.
Expelling a deep breath into the cold air, she retaliated. “I was actually saying you will want me to sit next to Prince Michael and Jack will need to sit between my great aunts.” She turned to Jack and gave a dazzling smile. “You’ll love the aunts. They are both over eighty and quite eccentric. Unfortunately, their English isn’t too good but they adore handsome young men. They will positively drool over you.”
He returned her smile and touched her nose with one gloved finger. “Touché, princess,” he said, and once again her heart beat crazily as his eyes flirted with her.
“I can assure you both I can manage the seating arrangements very well on my own.” Francesca gave her own quiet smile and then continued her conversation with Hubert.
~ * ~
He aimed his cue and parted the rack of billiard balls with a loud crack wishing Michael’s head was at the end of the cue.
“Good start, Jack.” The king was in an affable mood following, what was to Jack, a long and laborious dinner. Johann had insisted the men retire to the games room with their ports and coffee and he and Carl had challenged Jack and Michael to a game of billiards.
I need this like a hole in the head. Jack shot a couple of balls into the pockets and wished he was anywhere else but here. He wasn’t sure he could cope with any more royal functions and he certainly couldn’t cope with another evening of Michael pawing Lara as if he owned her.
Missing the next shot, he shrugged and leaned against a chair making room for Carl to move to the table. It was odd that Carl was here for a start. He was supposed to have left for Monaco that morning but had changed his mind and attended the dinner to welcome Michael and the aunts.
I wonder if his mum and dad had a go at him.He was certainly subdued during the meal but so was Lara. Something was really wrong with her. She was pale and sort of shell-shocked. Also, Francesca had placed her next to bloody Prince Charming instead of me while I had to put up with Francesca and Aunt Bertha.
He chalked the end of his cue as his mind went over the disastrous evening. Funnily enough, he had enjoyed the company of the aunts who were lively and very entertaining, but his attention had been constantly drawn to Lara and the creep next to her. Jack knew he was suffering from an enormous attack of jealously. The agony of it had twisted his insides at every look Lara gave Michael, every word she said to him.
But what had grated with him the most was the way Michael had been so familiar with Lara. Throughout the dinner, he had constantly touched her arm, kissed her hand and whispered to her. At any time it would have been rude, to say the least, but to Jack, it was like a red rag to a bull. Nobody remarked about Michael’s behavior, they were too polite for that, but he could see Lara was embarrassed.
His Lara. No one else’s, he thought savagely as he watched Michael prepare to take his turn at the billiard table. He had messed things up completely by springing his marriage proposal on her. He should have handled things differently. He had floundered hopelessly. No wonder she had refused him, assuming she was part of the business deal he had made. Unfortunately, as far as her parents were concerned, she was. But not to him. He wanted her as his wife because…because…
Jack frowned. Because he loved her? Or was it sheer pig-headedness because he hadn’t got his own way. He wasn’t sure. He did know he was trying to make up for his earlier crass mistake. They needed quality time together, time to get to know each other. She needed to be courted, for God’s sake. Who could blame her for acting this way? He could see she was still vulnerable to him. He had seen it when they were on the sleigh ride when she had opened up to his flirtatious remarks and blushed at his nearness. He would have done anything to have taken her in his arms tonight and protect her from that fool Michael.
“Jack, your turn.”
Wearily, he played a shot and missed the pocket giving Carl the opportunity to play and win the game.
“Johann, why don’t you and Carl play the next game? That will give my new friend and me the opportunity to chat,” Michael said, in his strong guttural accent.
Christ! That’s all I need—to sit and talk to you. At this point, Jack would much rather have disappeared somewhere and drown his sorrows in a bottle of whisky. However, he followed Michael and they sat in the armchairs either side of the roaring fire.
“I understand you are interested in marrying Lara?”
Jack was suddenly wide awake as the older man posed the question. “Yes, I am.” As if it’s any of your business, he wanted to add.
“I’m afraid you might be a little late, my dear man.”
“What do you mean?”
“As you may know, Lara and I are second cousins and it has always been understood that we would marry.”
“Then why haven’t you?”
Michael laughed unpleasantly. “Because I needed to wait until she was ready to accept the responsibility of becoming my wife. Oh, I’m aware she’s had a little dalliance with you and that’s fine. It gets it out of her system. But in the future when we are married, there will be no more affairs. Not for her, anyway.”
Jack stiffened and his jaw clenched as he placed his coffee cup on the table beside him. “What if she’s pregnant?” His words were as cold as ice but Michael didn’t seem to notice.
“C’est la vie, as they say. I will insist she has an abortion and afterward, I will make sure I impregnate her with my child, a child of royal blood who will be a fitting heir to the throne of Challoner. I have waited many years for Lara and when I have her, I intend to enjoy her, if you take my meaning.”
Jack waited knowing he had to continue to play Michael’s rotten little game and keep his cool or he was in danger of punching him right in the mouth.
“Are you going to pay any money for the privilege of acquiring Lara as your bride, Michael?”
“Heavens, yes. I’ve topped your offer, the difference being Lara was always going to say yes to me. It took a little negotiation with her parents. Besides, she would never let Carl down. She adores him.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. What the hell was this slime ball talking about?
Lowering his voice Michael said, “I suppose they didn’t tell you. They do like to keep such a …delicate matter in the family.”
“Tell me what?” He was rapidly losing patience.
“The king and queen don’t want money just to prop up Challoner’s economy, Jack, dear boy, although that is certainly required. They need it to pay Carl’s gambling debts, which amount to many millions of dollars. If word leaked out, the royal family would be finished and a dynasty that has lasted centuries would come crashing down.”
Keeping his face expressionless, Jack casually stretched his long legs toward the fire. “Oh, really,” he said casually. “I wondered why their majesties seemed so concerned on what should be a government matter. So, Lara was aware of her brother’s gambling problems, you say?”
“Of course. That’s why Francesca and Johann were putting pressure on you when they found out you had a bit of money. Luckily for us all, I stepped in and let you off the hook.”
“Indeed. Lucky me. Well, thanks for filling me in. I think I’ll call it a night, if you will excuse me, prince.”
~ * ~
Dear Diary,
The most terrible thing has happened. I don’t know what to do.
Let me start with the sleigh ride. I thought it was going to be awful and Jack would be difficult but, he was wonderful. I’m more in love with him than ever, heaven help me. I was on a knife’s edge but all the time I had this warm glow inside me. Even though Jack was talking to mother and Hubert, I knew he was aware of me. I have made the most dreadful mistake in refusing to marry him and now, dear diary, it’s too late.
Before dinner HM came to see me and told me Carl was in trouble. Over the past five years, he has gambled away millions and now, unless we can pay his huge debt, the news will come out and we will be disgraced and ruined.
Then HM told me Michael had offered a few million more than Jack as long as I promise to marry him. HM says Michael doesn’t care about my affair and any possible pregnancy. I told her then that I couldn’t be pregnant and explained why. I have never been so embarrassed talking to my mother about something like that. But, she was pleased at the news, so I suppose that’s something.
I couldn’t answer her when she said I had to agree to Michael’s proposal. I couldn’t! So, HM has given me until the morning to make up my mind.
I don’t know what to do but deep down I know I will have to say yes. How can I let our family be disgraced? Tonight, Michael was all over me and I hated it. He’s never been like that before and I was aware of Jack watching us. It was agony. I’m so unhappy.
She passed a weary hand over her eyes and closing the diary locked it in the safe. So much for that, she thought. Words aren’t going to get me out of this. I’m trapped. Really trapped.
She prepared for bed and as she lay looking into the darkness, she was sure she would never sleep again. However, she must have dosed because a sound woke her. Startled, she turned on the bedside lamp and checked the time on the clock. It was two thirty in the morning and Jack was standing at the end of her bed.
“I thought you might be pleased to see me,” he said, moving closer. “I mean, I’m making a habit of coming to your bedroom, aren’t I?”
“What are you doing here? Are you drunk?” she hissed, pulling the covers up to her chin.
“No. But I wouldn’t mind getting drunk.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve let me down, Lara.”
Reaching for her robe, she hastily pulled it on and sat on the edge of the bed to face him. He looked disheveled with his dress tie loose around his neck and his shirt halfway undone. Disheveled and angry.
“I don’t understand, Jack.”
“Because, my beautiful princess, you turned down my marriage proposal. I obviously wasn’t good enough to kiss the feet of Your High and Mightiness, so you hung out for a real prince.”
He sat on the bed beside her and leaned forward, his eyes dark and bitter as with a mocking smile, he continued, “You knew you had Michael neatly tied up in a big satin bow, didn’t you? You will now be comfortable in your own little royal circle with all your brother’s debts paid and perhaps occasionally you might think of Jack Whatsisname, that rough Australian fisherman, with whom you had a bit of a fling.”
“That’s not true. Why are you behaving like this?”
She flinched as his hand cupped her cheek, his eyes on her mouth. “Princess, I told you I always get what I want and the fact you don’t want me doesn’t matter. I have come from a meeting with your parents and Carl and this time the negotiations are final, all signed and sealed.”
Lara’s stomach churned at the contemptuous look on his face. She waited for him to continue.
“They agreed to accept one billion dollars for you Lara, and all things considered, I think we both got ourselves a bargain.”